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The Moorabool News – 29 March, 2022 Page 13
Vandalised and out of tune By Lachlan Ellis A piano arranged by Moorabool Shire Council for free public use over summer has sadly been vandalised, with the culprit unknown. Situated at the Eddie Toole Reserve, Bacchus Marsh, the piano is one of two set up by Council under the ‘Pop-Up Pianos’ project, with the other located at A.A. McLean Reserve Ballan. Both pianos were sourced from the community, and were painted by local artists with beautiful, eyecatching designs. However, photos of the pop-up piano at Eddie Toole Reserve were posted on social media on 19 March, showing a panel smashed off the piano. A Council spokesperson said it was disappointing to
Crime drops in Moorabool The latest figures released by the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) are out and according to those statistics, crime has dropped, not just in Moorabool but across the state. The CSA’s data for the 12 months to the end of December 2021 shows that there were 477,999 criminal offences recorded in Victoria in 2021, representing a decrease of 12.8 per cent, or 70,087 offences, from 2020. The total marks the lowest number of criminal offences in a calendar year in Victoria since 2014, with robberies also at their lowest since 2014. Burglaries/break and enters, were at their lowest in Victoria since the Law Enforcement Assistance Program was introduced in 1993, at 21,277 homes broken into. Moorabool saw an even sharper decline in crime proportionally speaking, with 1,617 offences in 2021 compared to 2,048 in 2020 - a decrease of 21 per cent. “While the highly unique environment in Victoria last year clearly contributed to the overall decrease in crime, it was incredibly positive to see a reduction in serious offences which impact the community such as home burglaries, robberies and car thefts,” Deputy Commissioner of Regional Operations, Rick Nugent, said. “While each victim of crime is one person too many, we are pleased that last year we had the lowest number of victims in Victoria since 2010, with almost 14,500 fewer victims of crime than the year prior.” The top five suburbs for crime in Moorabool remained the same as in 2020 – Bacchus Marsh, Darley, Maddingley, Ballan, and Gordon. All five towns saw a decrease in crime – Bacchus Marsh experienced almost 300 less crimes, from 907 in 2020 to 608 in 2021. However, incidents in Moorabool of stealing from a motor vehicle increased from 149 offences to 159, and breaching family violence orders increased from 108 offences to 113.
see the piano vandalised, but it was due to be removed anyway. “The piano was due to be decommissioned, as rain had made it unplayable. Our arts team has arranged for it to be removed,” Council’s spokesperson told the Moorabool News. “The piece was always planned to be ephemeral for use over the summer months, or as long as it lasted. It lasted well, and was a shame it was vandalised but was due to be removed anyway.” The pop-up pianos were set up last December, and are due to be removed at the end of March from both locations. The community piano had the top panel ripped off in a vandalism attack. Photo - Diana Warner
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